Challenge Wrap-Up: March

                So today is the 25th which means it is time for my monthly challenge update and wrap-up; Month 3.  Basically I want to share my progress with you all and it helps me hold myself accountable.  With that in mind this is how I’ve done this month.

Goodreads Challenge:

Goal: 100

At:  37

Truthwitch (review) / The Glittering Court (review)/ Cursed

2016 Debut Authors:

Goal: 12

At: 3

Don't GetCaught by Kurt Dinan (review)

Rock My TBR:

Goal: As many as possible!

At: 18

What I've Read:

Willowgrove by Kathleen Peacock (review)

Born AtMidnight by C.C. Hunter

Awake atDawn by C.C. Hunter

Taken atDusk by C.C. Hunter

Snow LikeAshes by Sara Raasch (review)

Winter by Marissa Meyer (review)

Series Ender Challenge:

Goal: 15+

At: 4

What I've Finished:

Hemlock trilogy by Kathleen Peacock with Willowgrove

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer with Winter

                 All in all I'd say it was a pretty successful month.  I didn't get to finish or review my debuts but that just means next month will be even better!  I'd love to hear how you're doing so link back to your wrap up!

~Stacking the Shelves~ January

                Welcome to a special Saturday posting!  Stacking the Shelves was created by Tynga and the full details can be found on her page here.  Basically you showcase the books you bought, they post weekly, but I decided to take part once a month for simplicity.  Basically a monthly book haul!  These are the books I got for myself in January including my two #bookoutlethaul that arrived because I can’t be trusted on the website.

Physical Books

New Releases:

Curio by Evangeline Denmark

Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

Passenger by Alexander Bracken (review) 

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Other:

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Unforgiven by Lauren Kate

Bookoutlet Haul: (2 Orders because I just couldn’t help myself)

#1:

Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier

Game by Barry Lyga

The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

The Infinite Sea by Rick Yancy

This is What Happy Looks Like- by Jennifer E. Smith

#2:

Empire of Night by Kelley Armstrong

Icons & Idols by Margaret Stohl

Unbreakable & Unmarked by Kami Garcia

Zeroes by Scott Westerfield

Kisses and Curses- Anthlogy

Geektastic: Stories From The Nerd Herd- Anthology

E-books

For Review: 

You Were Here by Cori McCarthy

Asleep by Krystal Wade

Don't Get Caught by Kurt Dinan

Rebel's Honor by Gwynn White 

Cogling by Jordan Elizabeth Mierek 

Threats of Sky and Sea by Jennifer Ellision

New Releases:

Demons by Ednah Walters- I forgot to add this to my new releases last month!  I forgot since it's an e-book and I pre-ordered and all.

Others:

Queen Song & Steel Scars by Victoria Aveyward

Outcast by C.J. Redwine

Fractured Truth by Rachel McClellan

A Dawn Most Wicked by Susan Dennard 

Something Strange & Deadly

                Hello everyone!  I’m back, sorry for missing my Monday review but it wasn’t completely typed at that point and I spent my day running around dealing with doctors and insurance and such for my accident last Friday.  It could have been much worse, I’m still waiting to hear about my vehicle but it’s looking like a total loss but my chiropractor has adjusted my neck and shoulder so that is back to normal, the bruising in my wrist has gone down and I’m getting better at functioning with my broken finger.  Yes I broke my first bone ever and let me tell you it might be a minor thing to some but I have a very low pain tolerance and it hurts.  Hence typing is a tad bit more difficult now but I’m working through it just having to remember not to hit it.  Anywho I’d like to share with you the review I didn’t have finished Monday, Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard.  This is the first book in the series by the same name and it is complete.  I am currently reading the final book in the series with Perpetual YA Bookworms Goodreads Group as we decided to do the whole series this month as we prepared for Truthwitch! 

Rating:  4 Stars

                This story is about the walking dead.  Seriously the dead are rising in Philadelphia back when young ladies wore gowns and proper confining attire and required a chaperone and ones brightest hope was to catch the eye of a ma well off.  Eleanor has a lot to worry about.  Her family has fallen on hard times so her mother is determined to marry her off to a rich man to save the family but with the dead rising and her brother missing Eleanor has other priorities.  When a letter from her brother is delivered, from the dead no less, she knows she must help him.  Luckily her city has hired the Spirit Hunters to protect the city and the exhibit from the dead.  As she spends more time with the hunters she learns more about them and how the world really works in the trenches aside from tea parties and the like.  Things on all fronts become more dire and everything is put at risk.

                Something Strange and Deadly was a fast paced action book.  There was constantly something happening and things going on.  It was a roller coaster ride.  Now it may be centered around the walking dead but it focuses on other aspects as well with the dead being here and there.  There are two types of dead, the slow moving type that are controlled by a necromancer and the fast and vicious hungry ones who are not.  Yes we have necromancy.  I was very interested when I learned this because…umm hello it sounds super interesting.  I was thinking walking dead like zombies which is more what the Hungry are the ones outside of the necromancers power but the others are just animated corpses under someone’s dark control.    Still this book while there is lots of action it has a lot to do with the story unraveling and mysteries being unearthed while we get to know our characters.

                Our MC Eleanor is a bit of a modern girl in the past.  She is out of time as it were in that she doesn’t understand many of the rules society live by and she is out of place with her thoughts and actions.  She slides back and forth sometimes with her attitude with what is acceptable and what is proper and that was just who she is.  She tries to do the right thing by her family and be a proper lady but that is what she normally has issues with snapping back when she realizes her misstep.  Then we have the Spirit Hunters, and the lead is Joseph.  Oh I do love Joseph he is so sweet and proper the perfect gentlemen even in difficult times.  Then Jie, the girl who shows Eleanor there is more to life than dresses and that how others see you can be turned against them.  She is just so fun and quirky I love her oh and she’s pretty kick ass!  Then there is Daniel or rogue inventor.  He’s a bit rough around the edges but I like him he’s such a fun character and I love the way he challenges Eleanor.  Her dynamic with all of the hunters is entertaining and a clear difference from her interactions with the proper meetings with the Wilcox siblings or other members of their society.  The play between the two was nice, seeing her interact with both and how each interaction added to her forming her own views.

                The plot of the story was fast moving and while some items were predictable others were a complete twist.  I really enjoyed the story and pacing overall and was excited to move onto the next story.  I was invested in the characters and that is what matters most when fighting dead. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, what did you think of this book/series?  What did you think of the characters, the romance, the walking dead and the steampunk like world?  Also don’t forget only 8 days left in the giveaway for a SIGNED copy of The Rose Society all details here.  That's it for today!

                Until next time…

Top Ten Tuesday: Resolutions! Books/Series I plan to finish

                Hello everyone!  Top Ten Tuesday is just how it sounds, a topic is picked and we put our Top Ten for that in a post and share and check out everyone’s answers.  Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The top today is: Resolutions!  Books/Series I plan to finish!

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan- Okay so I never jumped on the band wagon.  Okay maybe didn't know it was a thing until near the end of the sequel series (which is technically on my list too but I'm encompassing them all) was almost over and I never could catch up!  Better late than never.

The 5^th Wave series by Rick Yancy- Been wanting to read this for a while but haven't for some unknown reason but with the movie coming out this month I need to get on this one!

Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin- Love mentioned for this series (mixed feelings seem to be on the final book) but still I want to know what everyone was talking about!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone series by Laini Taylor- I have heard huge praise from this book/series and the author and after meeting her and talking to her I feel bad I still haven't read these yet.

Snow Like Ashes series by Sara Raasch- This is a friend of mines huge obsession and I love the sound of it and the cover but kept putting it off but I guess with two books out its a good time to catch up.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black- Nothing but good things have been said (to me anyways) about this book and I have been meaning to pick it up for so long.

Covenant series by Jennifer L. Armentrout- I am such a huge fan of JLA but it seems almost impossible to catch up with her she puts out so many books!  I need to power through these on my shelf and keep going!

Summer trilogy by Jenny Hann- Meant to read these last Summer...but things didn't happen that way.  I was missing the first book.  Hard to start a series missing book one.

The Selection series by Kiera Cass- Heard things good and bad for this series but I want to give it a go, I have all in the original trilogy and the first in the continuation/companion I believe.

Adorkable by Sarra Manning- I use this term all the time and found out its the title of a book.  I know nothing else about it but I had to have it and I still haven't read it.

What do you think?  Let me know below in the comments.  Also please link back to yours so I can see your top ten!  

Happy Teaser Tuesday!  Today is the 5th installment of ten weeks of teasers for the release of Asleep by Krystal Wade.  A spine-chilling YA psychological thriller and debut novel from Blaze Publishing set to come out February 16th.  All teasers and other content can be found on the Blaze Publishing blog.  You can also pre-order your copy now from Amazon and add it to your Goodreads list!

2015 Wrap Up!

                I was thinking of making my own wrap up or tag type thing for 2015/2016 end to start but I saw this popping up all over my page and think it summed everything up!  It's a bit long but I'll keep my answers as short and simple as possible. The original post was created by Jamie at The Perpetual Page Turner and full details can be found here.  This will be the last post of 2015!  I plan to take tomorrow off as well.  If I'm honest, and I always am with you all, I have plans this evening with some friends and I work tomorrow morning so I'm not sure how my brain will be functioning tomorrow.  With that said let's get rolling!

Number of Books You Read: 104 (includes novellas)

Number of Re-Reads: 3

Genre You Read the Most From: No idea I read what I want when I want!

Best Book Read in 2015?

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell & Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Book you were excited about & thought you were going to love more but didn't?

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

Most Surprising (good or bad way) book you read?

Winter by Marissa Meyer (technically I'm not finished yet but hope to be tonight and it's in a GOOD way thus far!

Book you "Pushed" the most people to read?

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Best series you started in 2015?  Best Sequel?  Best Series Ender?

Started: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Sequel: 

Ender: End of Days by Susan Ee or Isla and the Happily Every After by Stephanie Perkins

Favorite new author you discovered?

Elise Kova with Air Awakens 

Best book from a genre you don't typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Couldn't find one really since I'm pretty open.

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

Winter by Marissa Meyer (and I'm not even finished yet!)

Book you read in 2015 that you are most likely to re-read next year?

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Favorite cover of a book read?

The Previous Stones trilogy by Kerstin Gier

Most memorable character?

Captain Thorn & Iko in The Lunar Chronicles (whole crew really)

Kaz in Six of Crows (whole group really)

Celaena in Throne of Glass books (keeping names the same)

Most beautifully written book?

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Most thought-provoking/life-caning book?

Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Book you can't believe you waited until 2015 to read?

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

 though I admit it was beautiful to have a selection ready to devour without waiting!

Favorite pasage/quote

I did a Top Ten on this here

Shortest & Longest books read?

Shortest: Mama Cried by Talia Haven (short story)

Longest: Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas

Book that shocked you the most

Air Awakens by Elise Kova I had some serious moments where I didn't see things coming!

OTP of the year!  (I will go down with this ship)

Kaz and Inej

Feyre and Tamlin

Celaena & Chaol 

Favorite non-romantic relationship?

Iko and everyone in the Lunar Chronicles!

Favorite book read of an author I already knew?

Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Best book read based solely on a recommendation from someone else/peer pressure?

Miss Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Newest fictional crush?

Captain Thorn from The Lunar Chronicles
Prince Aldrik from Air Awakens

Kaz from Six of Crows

Park from Eleanor & Park

Nicolas from Passenger

Shepherd from Daughter of Deep Silence

Best 2015 debut?

Crown of Smoke by Snowa Fox

Best world building/most vivid setting?

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

Book that put a smile on my face/fun to read?

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Book that made me cry/nearly cry?

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell 

Hidden gem of the year?

Alpha Unleashed by Aileen Erin

Book that crushed my soul?

Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas (if you don't know why then I can't say)

Most unique book?

Miss Peregrin's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs for the way it blended in the photos into the story, I haven't seen anything like that before myself.

Book that upset me the most?

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

New favorite book blog?

 I've discovered several but a few are Next Page Please, The Eater of Books, Downright Dystopian, and my good friend started her blog Bogdana The Booknerd

Favorite review I wrote?

I don't think I can pick one off hand.  I'd have to spend a while going through them.  I think all the books I LOVED are fantastic as I try to show my love and excitement through each one!

Best discussion/non-review post I wrote?
I had the pleasure of doing several author interviews and new release promos which thrilled me.  Some of my favorites were getting to work with the Ink Monster team because I have loved their books since the start!

Best event I participated in?  (signings, festivals, virtual events, ect.)

I went to several signings which I adored all of them!  I also went to UtopYA which was a fantastic event and so much fun.  I missed out on YALLfest this year but I still think I had a fantastic time!

Best moment of bookish/blogging life?
At UtopYA I was talking to an author I like but didn't know would be there and she commented about her series and this one review that explained it perfectly and I was like huh sounds like mine...she was talking about MY review!  Also before this even an author I had interviewed the previous year messaged me to tell me she was attending and saw I would be there and looked forward to meeting me in person!  How awesome!  I'm a small still rather unknown blog but to be recognized was total fangirl!

I can't currently find the other picture but here is one!

Most challenging thing about blogging/reading this year?

Time.  I need to work on getting ahead and not typing things the day of. Also trying to post at a specific time is hard given that my job rotates hours nights to days so what is here for one month might be flipped for another.  Also YouTube, Netflix, and Pintrest.  It is so hard to read or write when I get caught up in one of those things and see my 10 min break was 2 hours.

Most popular post of the year (by views or comments)?
My ACOTAR review  (here)
& 
My interview with Sarah Negovetich (here)

Post you wished got more love?
All of them lol!  I get more views than comments and I want to figure out how to get people to take a few moments to comment and interact so I can have a discussion!

Best bookish discovery? (sites, stores, etc)
I don't think I discovered much new this year honestly :(

Did you complete any challenges or goals?
The only challenge I was part of was my 100 book Goodreads challenge which I completed!

One book you didn't get to in 2015 but will be a priority in 2016?
There are so many!  I had planned to finish Queen of Shadows & Winter and I had wanted to finish off the Defiance and Darkest Minds trilogies but time got in the way.

Book most anticipated in 2016 (non-debut)?
I'm cheating I did a Top Ten with this last week! (here)

2016 debut most anticipating?
Another Top Ten (here) hey I've already put work into figuring this out!

Series ending/sequel I'm dying to get in 2016?
Pretty much all the sequel books listed two Q's ago lol.  A Court of Mist and Fury, Stars Above, The Raven King, Six of Crows 2, A Torch Against the Night, Throne of Glass 5, etc.

One thing I hope to accomplish or do in my reading/blogging life?

                Meeting my challenge goals and just keeping to my schedule.  It's doable if I just learn/stay on schedule and not get side tracked as much as I do with Netflix or YouTube marathons!

A 2016 release I've already read/recommend to everyone?
                Passenger by Alexandra Bracken (review) 
I have some other ARCs but I haven't gotten them finished just yet but look for them soon!